In a letter explaining the suspension, Bishop Zurek said:

The PFL has become a business that is quite lucrative which provides Father Pavone with financial independence from all legitimate ecclesiastical oversight.  There have been persistent question (sic) and concerns by clergy and laity regarding the transactions of millions of dollars of donations to the PFL from whom the donors have a rightful expectation that the monies are being used prudently. These financial questions and concerns have persisted with no clear and adequate answers since the time when Father Pavone was under two previous bishop ordinaries. Since he has consistently refused to subject the PFL to a transparent and complete auditing of all expenditures, I have reasons to be alarmed at the potential financial scandal that might arise if it were the result of my failure to correct Father Pavone's incorrigible defiance to my legitimate authority as his Bishop.

But the bishop also is concerned with Pavone's ego, stating, "Father Pavone has gradually lost his need to show appropriate obedience to his Bishop."  He further observed, "It seems that his fame has caused him to see priestly obedience as an inconvenience to his unique status and an obstacle to the possible international scope of his ministry."

 The Amarillo Globe-News reported that Pavone was a no-show at an invited October 6 meeting with the bishop.

Pavone stated that he skipped the meeting on the advise of his canonical attorney.

In the meantime a picture of an organization with well-paid but inept executives is emerging.

PFL and its associated groups bring in a lot of money.  Tax returns show that between 2004 and 2008 alone PFL raised 45.5 million dollars.  Mother Jones magazine reports that in 2008 the group's executive director made $95,394, the vice chairman of the board made $162,253.  MoJo further reported, "The group also spent $736,146 on travel-some of which may have funded Pavone's efforts to promote the group."

The Amarillo Globe-News further reported that the State of Pennsylvania fined PFL a total of $8,000 both last year and in 2006 for its failure to renew its 2005 registration as a charity.  It also failed to disclose to the state it had hired a marketing company to conduct fundraising campaigns there in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

As the Globe-News pointed out, the failure to report the fundraiser is a bad sign for any not-for-profit:

"Another big no-no," said Ron Barrett, vice president for nonprofits of National Corporate Research, a business that assists charities in keeping registrations current.  "In 23 states, if you're soliciting and you use a paid fundraiser, you have to send copies of the contracts and alert the states that you are using a paid fundraiser."

Pennsylvania hit Priests for Life with another fine, this one for $6,000, last year for noncompliance.  The nonprofit's failure to disclose the marketing contract also resulted in a subsequent Pennsylvania investigation that led to penalties for the contractor last year, Pennsylvania State Department spokesman Ron Ruman said.

Meanwhile, Priests for Life may be feeling the pressure of the scrutiny directed at Pavone.  The National Catholic Reporter recently reported that PFL "...sent a new desperate plea for money in a letter to donors dated Nov. 4, 2011."   The letter goes on to say that "many supporters have withdrawn their support of PFL because of the controversy surrounding it."